Kathleen Mills

Kathleen "Kay" Mills-Hill (8 October 1923 – 11 August 1996) was an Irish sportsperson who played senior camogie with Dublin from 1941 until 1961. She is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, winning 15 All Ireland Senior Medals.

Early life and family Katherine Rosaleen Mills was born in 31 South Square, Inchicore, Dublin, on 8 October 1923. Her mother, Winifred (née Wills), was from Inchicore and her father, Thomas, was from Glanmire, County Cork. Her father worked for Great Southern Railways. She had three siblings, Gertrude, Ada and Robert. When she was just eighteen months old her mother died, leaving her to be raised by her maternal grandmother, Charlotte Wills, who lived 1 Abercorn Terrace, Inchicore. She was educated in the local convent school at Goldenbridge, where she played table tennis and soccer as well as doing gymnastics. However, camogie was her first love, which she started playing at age 5. She left school at a young age, and went to work in Lamb's jam factory.

Through her father, Mills was able to participate in and avail of the sporting activities in the GSR Athletic Union. Two pence per week were deducted from the worker’s wages to go towards the financing of the sports activities in the Railway. In 1947, Mills married George Hill. They ran the Red Seal Handbag Company from the North Circular Road, and later Hill Street. Later they became vintners, running the Seventh Lock public house on the Grand Canal, Ballyfermot.

Death and legacy Kathleen Mills-Hill died on 11 August 1996 from undisclosed causes, at her home on the Naas Road, Dublin. She was buried in Palmerstown cemetery. In 2010 the camogie trophy for the annual inter-county All Ireland Championship for counties graded Junior was named in her honour. The Kay Mills Cup is a replica of the O'Duffy Cup. A plaque to Mills was erected at her former home, 1 Abercorn Terrace, Inchicore.

Honours Camogie Dublin All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Winners: (15) 1942, 1943, 1944, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958 (c), 1959, 1960, 1961 Runners-Up: (2) 1941, 1947

Leinster Senior Camogie Championship Winners: (20) 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961